Savabeel's The Chosen One Secures Caulfield Cup Start

Mark Smith - Sunday October 13

New Zealand stayer The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) has earned a ticket into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) with a hard-fought victory in Saturday's Group II Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).

As the winner of Saturday's 2400m handicap, The Chosen One gains a ballot exemption into next week's A$5 million Caulfield Cup.

Backed from $9 to $6.50, The Chosen One scored a half-length win under Damian Lane from last year's Melbourne Cup placegetter Prince Of Arran (Shirocco) with Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man) three lengths away third. (image Grant Courtney )


The Chosen One had his price slashed for next week's Cup from $101 to $11 and can't be penalised for the win.

Murray Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, is chasing a second Caulfield Cup having won the race in 2015 with Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor).

"Mongolian Khan did everything right, he was an experienced horse," Baker said.

"He'd won two Derbys, he was pretty strong. This guy is hopefully on the way up."

Baker said it was important to see The Chosen One back in form after producing a disappointing performance in the weight-for-age Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 29.

He said dropping back to handicap conditions suited the four-year-old.

"The speed was on and he saw the trip out which was the main thing and we go on to the Caulfield Cup now, I think."

Lane switches to Japanese stayer Mer De Glance (Rulership) but said The Chosen One, with his light weight of 52kg, was a contender in next week's race.

Bred by Tony, Joe, Ray and Martin Dennis, The Chosen One is a son of Savabeel and the Group Three-placed Flying Spur mare The Glitzy One, who won eight races from 1400m to 2500m.

It is a family The Dennis Brothers have cultivated over generations, with the grand dam the dual Group One winner The Jewel (NZ) (O'Reilly).

"It's the first time we've put a syndicate of our own together," Tony Dennis said. "We usually just race them ourselves.

"We tried to sell him at Karaka as a yearling and we put a $150,000 reserve on him, but he got to $130,000.

"Later Tony Rider suggested we syndicate him. He took 10 percent straight away and it went from there.

"I asked Murray Baker whether he'd train him and he said he'd love to, after having trained The Phantom from the same family all those years ago."

Under the guidance of Baker, The Phantom's (NZ) (Noble Bijou) performances included a win in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes and a second in the 1990 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

"The syndicate just went from there," Dennis said. "Our family has ended up with 40 percent and the rest is divided up with friends.

"I'm really enjoying watching the fun the syndicate is having with him."

The syndicate includes Janine Dunlop, who regularly prepares the Dennis brothers horses for the National Yearling Sales at Karaka under her Phoenix Park banner.

AAP - Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk


Advertisment
More Reading...
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Probabeel Shows her Class
Superstar three-year-old Probabeel proved a class above her age-group rivals when she made a winning start to her summer campaign over 1400m at Awapuni on Saturday.
Mo'Unga Looking to Bounce Back
Trainer Annabel Neasham is looking forward to stepping out Group One winner Mo’unga in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, where she is expecting to see an improved run from the entire.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Savabeel Blueblood Wins G3 Desert Gold
A copybook ride by Opie Bosson paved the way for promising filly Showbeel to add a valuable black type success to her career record when she took out the first feature race at Trentham on Saturday, the Group III New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Probabeel Chasing Karaka Million History
High-class filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will shoot for a slice of history at the Karaka Million twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on January 25.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.